The pandemic has led to a rise in work-from-home business opportunities. But, unfortunately, it has also caused an increase in criminals trying to scam people online.
There are plenty of authentic business opportunities out there that offer ongoing training, passive and residual income, total portability, and international travel. However, the surge in criminals taking advantage of people during these desperate times should make us cautious. Here are tips on how to protect yourself from an online business scam:
1. Common tricks to earn trust
Scammers continue to evolve and come up with new ways to trick people. However, there are some common strategies that criminals use, starting with trying to gain trust by impersonating an established business.
Another way they may try to fool you is by pretending to be a contact you already know. They may appeal to your emotions or say something personal, leading you to believe the connection is legit. Their messages may create a sense of urgency and attempt to push you to decide quickly without thinking it through.
2. Enormous income guarantees and claims
There are those who work tremendously hard and can make thousands of dollars a month. However, a legit online opportunity with a proven track record doesn’t make guarantees or promises because how much a person can make varies.
Unrealistic potential earnings are how scammers pull people in, knowing how desperate people are in these volatile times. The ad may also claim that you can earn money unrealistically fast. Therefore, don’t be tempted by the dollar signs and number of digits. Before you click any external links or register to join, research the company first.
3. Limited offers
Most fraudulent ads may say you only have a few hours to join or claim they’re only accepting a limited number of people. Don’t give in to the pressure to act quickly and provide your personal information without hesitation. Scammers don’t want you to take your time to do research and discover their ploy. Some of these business opportunity ads even have a countdown timer leading you to believe there is a time limit for you to act.
4. Paying a membership fee
Some online scams are so convincing that people are tricked into signing up for free, as advertised. The “free version” will claim you can join the program without providing your credit card details or other details to verify your identity. However, to proceed, you may be asked to become a “member” or “partner” which requires a fee.
5. Sell and stockpile products
While there are legitimate multi-level marketing programs, online scams typically ask you to not only sell products but also stockpile them. They’ll say that stockpiling will help you corner the market and be able to manipulate the price once the product becomes rare to find. With this strategy, scammers are essentially making money from pushing their so-called partners (you) to pay for all the products yourself.
Remember, there are plenty of legitimate online business opportunities. We can help you distinguish if the organization you’re planning to invest in is a scam. When it comes to achieving financial success and stability, earning income can be done in the comfort of your own home. Let’s talk more about business opportunities to look out for in 2021. Contact us today!
